- Conference
- 2004 National Delegate Conference
- Date
- 26 February 2004
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes that UNISON has been at the forefront of campaigning for devolution to the nations and regions of the UK. Devolution has resulted in the emergence of different political structures that provide further opportunities to influence policy makers for the benefit of our members as providers and users of services and as citizens.
The New Labour government recognises that the regional level is becoming an appropriate spatial scale for the delivery of its broader economic, social and political policies. The expansion of regional institutions, regional government offices, regional development agencies, learning and skills councils, demands a corresponding regional accountability.
The task for the trade union movement is to acknowledge that engagement at regional level represents an historic opportunity to both influence the future direction of public policy, and renew the role of trade unionism within the UK’s evolving political economy. Whereas previous involvement has entailed simply individual representation on the boards of regional institutions, the changing nature of governance, at regional and local level, calls for a more sophisticated, holistic and pro-active approach to ensure that:
1)the democratic deficit is addressed, particularly in England;
2)we properly engage to ensure that the problem of regional inequalities and the new regional approach to public policy are better matched to the diversity of regional conditions;
3)we meet the challenge for trade union organisation, at all levels, to ensure the institutional and individual capacity, resources and capability to respond.
The TUC and individual unions should evaluate whether current organisational structures and relations with STUC, Wales TUC and ICTU are best able to respond to the new framework of regional governance.
In particular, serious consideration should be given to:
a)developing a coherent and pro-active response to the emerging regional agenda;
b)prioritising their immediate and long-term aims and objectives;
c)preparing for further demands on time, energy and resources;
d)making available additional financial and material resources to support the engagement of trade unions in the new approaches to regional development and governance;
e)looking to improve the research capacity of trade unions at the regional level;
f)enhancing both institutional and individual capacity to engage at the regional level;
g)working in partnership with a wide range of regional and local partners;
h)encouraging wider union participation at TUC regional level;
i)building a sophisticated and effective TUC presence in local communities.
Conference welcomes the work undertaken in the past year to promote debate in UNISON and the building of a framework approach to policy development that recognises devolution. The impact of devolution may have resource implications for the union. However, current baseline funding and resourcing of regional organisation, administration and lay activity is that inherited by UNISON and bears little relation to current needs.
Conference instructs the National Executive Council, in conjunction with the regions, to review and assess current resource needs and devise a baseline formula which may include: branch and employer organisation; membership distribution; rule book and administrative/organisational functions assigned to regions; core organisation, current staff and property costs; current allocations. An interim report should be included in the Annual Report to National Delegate Conference 2005 with a final baseline formula and scheme to be presented to National Delegate Conference 2006, identifying transitional funding required.